Did you know there’s a more severe version of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that happens in some people? It’s called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). PMDD is often overlooked and might be affecting the life of menstruating individuals more than we realize.This may not be the most “happy-go-lucky” read, but the goal here is to shed some light on this relatively untalked about topic. It’s important to know that PMDD is still new in the research world and it’s not fully understood how it works, but we have to start somewhere!
PMDD is actually a branch in mental health disorders such as depression. It involves similar PMS symptoms such as: mood swings, nervousness, intense irritability, strong negative emotions towards daily life stress, feeling low, as well as physical symptoms like hunger and cramping. But PMDD goes a bit further and can include: feelings of depression, loss of interest, emotional overwhelm, and anxiety. These symptoms often improve once you get your period in Phase One but come back each cycle. The research suggests that the extreme symptoms affect quality of life in some people and can create a roller-coaster of intense emotional and physical cycles.
So, how does PMDD work? Let’s talk about the hormones! New ideas around PMDD are still being discovered, but one study looked at the potential role of estrogen and progesterone during Phase Four and Five in people living with PMDD. Progesterone, typically released during Phase Four, is often claimed to exaggerate PMS symptoms. One research group noted that people with PMDD had lower estrogen and higher progesterone levels in Phase Four compared to menstruating people without PMDD. They saw that these levels interacted with each other and were related to PMDD symptom severity in Phase Five. This means that the differences in hormone levels could be one contributing factor to PMDD symptoms.
So, what can we do about it? When we know about something, we can take the necessary action steps if it matters. Recognizing mental health is important because every person with PMDD faces it differently and will need different support. If you want to learn more about PMDD or think you might be living with it, your medical professional would be a great resource to get information relevant to you! This isn’t something that needs to be hidden, so let’s start the conversation. Take care of, and don’t forget to advocate for, your health and others. We are in this together!
Science, Feminism and Love.
Beddig T, Reinhard I, Kuehner C. Stress, mood, and cortisol during daily life in women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019 Nov;109:104372.
Yen JY, Lin HC, Lin PC, Liu TL, Long CY, Ko CH. Early- and Late-Luteal-Phase Estrogen and Progesterone Levels of Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Nov 7;16(22):4352.
